EMA Elects Chair of Management Board

On March 17, 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced the election of Christa Wirthumer-Hoche as chair of the agency’s Management Board for a three-year period. The announcement was made at the board’s meeting in London. The Management Board sets EMA’s budget, approves the annual work program, and overseas the agency’s collaborative work with partner organizations across the EU and beyond.

Wirthumer-Hoche, currently the head of the Austrian Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, has served as the vice-chair of the EMA Management Board since March 2015 and has been a member of the board since October 2013. She is co-chair of the EU Network Training Centre and has previously served as chair of EMA’s Active Substance Master File Working Group.

“It is a great honor to be appointed as chair of EMA’s Management Board,” said Wirthumer-Hoche at the March 17 board meeting, EMA reported in a press release. “As chair, my ambition is to ensure a strong partnership between EMA, the European Union national competent authorities, and the European Commission to guarantee that EMA is able to fulfill its important role of safeguarding human and animal health in Europe.”

EMA’s Executive Director, Guido Rasi, said in a press release, “I am delighted to welcome Dr Wirthumer-Hoche as the new chair of the agency’s Management Board. As vice-chair of the board, she has already demonstrated many times that she has the vision and leadership ability required for this important role. I look forward to our close collaboration.”

Source: EMA